NAA Sidewinder: Tiny Revolver, Big Upgrade

Photos by the creator

North American Arms (NAA) has, for a very long time now, established its popularity by constructing tiny 5-shot  .22LR/.22 Magnum revolvers that would slot in a Band-Support field. These weapons are small. I don’t know what number of completely different fashions they make, however the quantity is prodigious. They promote very effectively, in response to my FFL buddy. 

The latest thought from the corporate when it comes to upgrading its revolver line is to construct a revolver with a swing-out cylinder. In the event you’re not acquainted with the NAA line, you may be excused for considering {that a} swing-out cylinder is fairly widespread, for not less than double-action revolvers? You’d be proper. 

However you want to perceive that the NAA line of thumb-sized firearms are single-action and normally require that you simply pull the cylinder pin and roll the cylinder out to poke out the empties and to load new cartridges. The Sidewinder makes it simpler and quicker to get the empties out and the reloads in. You don’t even must poke the empties out… the cylinder has a spring-loaded ejector rod, similar to the massive boys. Now, THAT is progress!

I personal an NAA Black Widow with each LR and Magnum cylinders.

It’s a useful little factor… simple sufficient to stay in a pocket holster once I enterprise out in shorts or once I can’t take alongside my regular hid carry gun. Granted, it isn’t a powerhouse… extra of a get–off-me last-ditch machine … however it positive beats throwing rocks.

The one draw back is reloading. As I acknowledged above, you could pop the cylinder out and use the cylinder pin to poke the empties out. With the Sidewinder, the cylinder can keep hooked up to the gun, and also you don’t must fumble with its pin, as you’ve a spring-loaded rod to take away the empty instances. That is higher, for positive. 

Construct High quality

I need to take a second to handle the NAA revolvers’ construct high quality. Having owned one for a great whereas and having reviewed a number of over time, I really feel in a position to remark in regards to the topic.

These weapons are fabricated from good-quality stainless-steel and are assembled, adjusted, and simply usually made proper. The components match very effectively, there are not any machining marks, and the grips match effectively.

Plus, the grip panels on this gun are downright lovely, fabricated from rosewood. The tiny engraving is sharp and clear, and the entrance sight is polished, as are the cylinder sides and the body. 

The matte barrel, cylinder flutes, set off, and hammer make a pleasant distinction. All in all, this can be a very nice-looking gun. 

Specs

Caliber: .22 Magnum / .22 Lengthy Rifle (further cylinder)

Capability: 5

Size: 5″

Peak: 2.88″

Width: 1.06″

Weight: 6.7 oz.

Barrel Size: 1.5″

Sights: Stainless Put up Sight

Motion: Single Motion

Grips: Rosewood Hen’s Head

MSRP: $525

Go right here for more information on the Sidewinder.

The place To Purchase

Ideas On Carrying The Sidewinder

First… I mentioned above that this may not be my first selection in a carry weapon. The “get-off-me” gun class is completely different. This Sidewinder might nonetheless go together with you in a pocket, even when you’ve your predominant gun onboard. Police have in all probability carried backup weapons so long as they’ve carried their predominant sidearm, and it’s a great plan. If one thing occurs to your predominant gun, you’ll nonetheless have one thing with which to defend your self. 

Would you ever carry this little gun as a predominant CCW? I might hope not, however that’s not my name. I admit to having finished so once I was carrying shorts in the summertime and needed one thing comforting in a pocket. As I mentioned, it positive beats throwing rocks.

Additionally, we’ve all heard advert nauseum the previous dictum “a .22 in your hand is best than the .45 you left at house” or phrases to that impact. There may be reality to that, however I’ll depart it as much as you the place you stand on carrying a sub-mouse gun as main armament.

Taking pictures This Little Man

As I mentioned, I personal one of many small NAA revolvers, and have finished so for some time. So, I knew what to anticipate when it comes to capturing the Sidewinder.

The primary distinction between the one I personal and this one is the grip… the Black Widow makes use of a rubber, barely longer grip that means that you can get a great maintain on the gun. This Sidewinder’s rosewood grip is far prettier, however it’s a bit shorter and of chook’s-head configuration, so I used to be questioning the way it may shoot.

My son Thomas arrange targets at 5 yards (that may be stretching it… possibly 3 yards could be nearer to real-world utilization) and gathered .22 ammo.

We then proceeded to check the gun, particularly the spring-loaded ejector rod. It labored simply wonderful. (To modify cylinders, take away the screw on the base of the body below the cylinder rod, take away the previous cylinder, and set up the brand new cylinder).

Listed below are some outcomes.

As you possibly can see from our tiny pattern of .22 masses, the accuracy potential is there. By way of a “get-off-me” gun, this may greater than suffice. In the event you purchase considered one of these (or ANY .22LR firearm, for that matter), it should serve you effectively to spend the money and time to strive plenty of various kinds of masses.

It’s superb… I’ve owned .22s, each handguns and rifles, that might shoot one load abominably, after which flip round and put all of the photographs virtually in a single gap with one other model. That’s the world of .22s. Due to son Thomas for serving to with the capturing.

We didn’t strive the magnum cylinder, because the climate was very “iffy” and our time was restricted. It has been my expertise that magnum masses normally shoot not less than in addition to LR in these little weapons. Once more, purchase a number of manufacturers and kinds and experiment. You do get a velocity bump with the magnums.

Remaining Ideas

For these of you who just like the idea of a backup gun along with your predominant carry weapon, this gun is sensible. E

ven although the ballistics aren’t of the knock-down selection (what’s?), the .22 LR and Magnum are sufficient to not less than take the struggle out of a foul man, possibly even earlier than having to drag the set off. I imply… who needs to get shot by something? The aim is to have the BG cease what he’s doing. If he stops by simply displaying the Sidewinder, that might be nice. 

There may be one other, completely completely different objective for which my NAA “little man” shines, and this gun could be no completely different. There have been 4 occasions once I’ve needed to shoot possums that had gotten into our rooster coop. The NAA is ideal for that function. I can seize it, stick it in a pocket, and take my flashlight to the coop. The gun is small, so it’s simply maneuvered, the sights are usable, and it packs sufficient punch to ship these abysmal creatures to wherever they go after they croak. 

No matter use you set it to, the Sidewinder will go simply with you in a pocket and be prepared when wanted. Isn’t that each one we are able to ask?